The Hollywood Bellydance Hafla 2013 was held in SEGi University College multi-purpose hall Malaysia followed by Workshops by Hanan Abboud from Lebanon, and Mandy Bakhshy of Iranian and Turkish blood who currently resides in Malaysia, in collaboration with The Middle East Dance Academy Studio. Both infused with their passion for the dance and art form of bellydancing, the night was filled with top-notch entertain.
The whole idea of this event was created and organized by Nilu Bakhshy with the help and guidance of her mother Nanccy Bakhshy from the Middle East Dance Academy. They both of them, together with Paramartha Sajjana Narendradhipa and Fatin Abdul Malik from the SEGi International Student Society decided that this night should be about Middle Eastern Culture and the Unity of Malaysian Bellydancers.
Most of the dancers and organisers are students or working adults who enjoy their free time doing this beautiful hobby. The mains acts for that night were Hanan Abboud a Lebanese bellydancer was flown down from Australia just for the night and Mandy Bakhshy from Iran. Both these amazing bellydancers grew up immersed in the rich culture of this art form.
Hanan who owns the “Ahlam Bellydance Centre” in Australia and Nanccy who owns “The Middle East Dance Academy” in Malaysia are well-known in the region for spreading awareness of this art form and heritage while Mandy Bakhshy is an up-and-coming, champion bellydancer with fiery technique. She has also had outstanding awards for her dancing and has been graced to perform for Kings and Queens of Malaysia and all over Malaysia.
Though a majority of the performances were bellydances, it was of different genres and each of it was as unique as the next. There was Raqs Sharki, Modern Bellydance, Fusion Bellydance (Hip Hop, Flamenco), Azeri from Azarbaijan (North of Iran), Baba Karam from Iran, Raks Assaya (Eygpt), Melaya (Alexandria, Eygpt), Fallahi, Tribal Bellydance to name a few. There was also an incredibly adorable performance by little children doing bellydancing.
In order to give guidance to those not so familiar with the art of bellydancing, there were slideshows and an emcee who gave descriptions and a brief history of each performance. It was a cultural experience as well as a very educational one as people who attended not only enjoyed themselves, but left with a knowledge of the ancient culture of this spiritual and wonderful art form.
